How Long Does Plastic Take to Decompose?

Key Takeaways:

• Plastics can take 20 to 500 years to decompose, depending on the material and structure.
• The breakdown rate of plastic also depends on sunlight exposure (UV radiation).
• Single-use plastic grocery bags take about 20 years to break down.
• Plastic water bottles (made of polyethylene terephthalate - PET) take around 450 years to fully break down.

Not  Natural

Plastic is derived from petroleum and doesn’t occur in nature. Its carbon bonds differ from those in nature, making it harder and more energy-intensive to break down.